Man arrested for FICN scam worth Rs 3.75 lakh

The Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) officers on Tuesday arrested a 34-year-old man from Andhra Pradesh who had jumped bail in 2015 in a fake Indian currency note (FICN) racket and has been on the run since. The accused was allegedly involved in the circulation of fake Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 denomination notes in the city.

The arrested person has been identified as Aziz Darvesh Shaikh, a native of Sahibganj in Jharkhand.

According to the police, in July 2012, officers from the Nagpada unit of the ATS had arrested Mehboob Alam Mohammad Maqbool Shaikh, Akram Abil Shaikh and Nasrul Haq Azaruddin Shaikh after they were found to be involved in circulation of the fake currency. The police seized Rs 3.75 lakh worth of fake currency in Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 denominations.

“During the probe, the trio had revealed that the seized FICN was given to them by one Aziz Darvesh Shaikh, who was later arrested in August 2012. A chargesheet was submitted against the four accused in the said case, and in June 2015, Aziz Shaikh jumped bail and never appeared before court. He was declared an absconder by the court. Last year, an ATS team visited Aziz’s native place but could not find him there,” an ATS officer added.

He added on receipt of specific information that Aziz is hiding in Kurnool in Andhra Pradesh, a police team went over and nabbed him.

RICH RACKET

• Police seized Rs 3.75 lakh worth of fake currency notes in denominations of Rs 500 and Rs 1,000.
   
• He was arrested in 2012, but jumped bail in 2015, and never appeared before the court again. Last year, an ATS team visited his house but didn’t find him